Ardennes

The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rough terrain, rolling hills, and ridges located along the Moselle and Meuse basins in Belgium, France, Germany, and Luxembourg. The Ardennes forest was key to military strategy in both World War I and World War II, during which Germany twice used it to invade France through neutral Belgium. The forest was supposed to stop German armor from moving, but the Germans were able to push through the rough terrain to surprise the French forces. The invasion route was used twice during World War II, at the Battle of France and the Battle of the Bulge.